This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of the publication is the sole responsibility of City of Lieksa and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
Forming the institutional environment for the development of nature tourism
in the Muezersky District
Background
Aims
Responsibilities
Potential
Problems
Interests and groups willing to actively participate in tourism development
in the district are available
Lack of the institutional environment for shaping mutually coordinated
interests and the potential of social actors in the local community:
administration, entrepreneurs, general public, private initiative.
Lack of the interrelated and integrated set of the tourist services marketed
To coordinate the interests of groups of the local community and develop
long- and short-term lines of tourism development in the Muezersky District.
To compose an integrated set of tourist services to be marketed
Muezersky District Administration,
rural administrations, local activists, researchers
Activities
Organisation:
Preparation and holding of 2 village meetings in Reboly and Lendery with
representatives of local authorities participating
Setting up the tourism co-ordinating council and working group with
representatives of local authorities, forest service, businesses and the public
Establishing the Tourist Centre based in the Lendery school
Working out the Programme of Nature Tourism Development in the Muezersky
District.
Laws and standards:
Normative, legislative, organisational and methodological basis for
controlling tourism activities and development
Signing the partnership agreement between the Muezersky District and City of
Lieksa for organisation of the nature tour along the Leksozero-Lenderka-Lieksa
lake-river system
Communication:
Establishing a network of stable contacts with associated nature use and
tourism bodies of the republican, national and international levels in the form
of meetings, seminars, conferences, joint projects (WWF, Konrad Adenauer
Foundation, Vernadsky Foundation, Russian Eco-Tourism Association, Russian
Association of Travel Agencies, Republican Tourism Centre, etc.)
Nature
tourism based on sustainable socio-cultural development of the local community
Background
Aims
Responsibilities
Potential
Problems
An active socio-cultural environment
Insufficient targeted educational and awareness activities in the
district for nature tourism development and efficient operation of the
tourist business
Creating a favourable socio-cultural
environment for sustainable development of nature tourism through
environmental education and awareness activities
Local activists, Secondary schools, Lendery integrated school, Public
Home, District forest protection bodies (leskhoz', forest districts),
republican ministries and departments, scientists
Activities
Setting up an associated body to organise educational & awareness
activities;
Developing the programme of educational & awareness activities
aiming to revive the culture and promote environment friendly nature
use;
Systematic activities of the district mass media and NGOs to raise
local interest in environmental issues and nature conservation
obligations (radio programmes, info about environmental and cultural
events, publications);
Developing different kinds of environmental awareness activities for
adults and youth;
Organisation of contests - "eco-performances" aiming to revive
traditional non-timber nature uses (fishing, hunting, berry and mushroom
picking, hay mowing, etc.);
Organisation of thematic exhibitions, presentations related to the
unique local culture (crafts, folklore, household traditions, hunting &
fishing, etc.);
Organisation and holding of thematic festivals, "art performances"
involving local people, tourists and invited guests (ecologists, actors,
artists, musicians, etc.);
Developing and implementing optional training courses in district
schools to expand children's knowledge of their land;
Developing training and consulting programmes for further education of
adults in ecology, culture, national crafts;
Organisation of special training courses for tourism staff;
Organisation of further training through participation of local
activists in republican, national and foreign study programmes (business
tourism).
Positioning tourist activities in the Muezersky District
Background
Aims
Responsibilities
Potential
Problems
Actors interested in developing tourism in the district are available
Lack of the register of local environmental and cultural resources and
structured information materials on the tourist potential of the district to
be used to promote its tourist product
Shaping the brand of the specific regional nature-tourism product in the
national and world markets
Tourist Centre, Republic of Karelia State Sport and Tourism Committee,
Local activists, Experts in marketing, Researchers
Activities
Developing unique water sport tours "on both sides of the border";
Preparing advertising and promotion materials for the tours developed;
Preparing and disseminating various items bearing environmental and
tourist logos, producing special video- and photo-products;
Organising PR actions: participation of the district representatives in
tourism-oriented seminars, exhibitions & other republican, national and
international events;
Broadening advertising by means of Internet resources;
Assistance from local authorities to the establishment and development of
entrepreneurial activities in sectors serving tourism (organising, consulting,
financial);
Conducting surveys of the nature tourism markets.
Forming the package of investment business projects
Background
Aims
Responsibilities
Potential
Problems
Business proposals from representatives of the local community (small
business, individuals, activists) are available
Lack of ready business projects
Finding investments for business proposals serving tourism development
from international funds (Eurasia, Soros, TACIS, Nordic Council of
Ministers, Barents Region, etc.) and from private sources
Initiators of project proposals
Activities
Village of Reboly
Reconstruction of storage facilities into a hotel (S. Yerkoev)
Organisation of the car service centre based at the spare parts shop (S.
Yerkoeva)
Reconstruction of the former village hospital into a guest house (project
by the Reboly-Lieksa Friendship Society)
Village of Lendery
Establishment of the Tourist Centre based in the Lendery school;
Resuming the construction of a cafe at the Lendery school
Organisation of the Leisure Centre for tourists at the Lendery Public
Home
Organisation of the Centre for support to children from socially unwell
families based in the Lendery Public Home
